Finnclass Focus 2015

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29.10.2015
Finn Class eNews - October 2015

As the European season draws to a close, attention shifts east and south. There has been a lot of Finn action in the past month with the final events across Europe, including an incredible 90 boat turnout for the Malcesine Finn Cup, with many sailors using it as their final practice before heading down under to New Zealand for the Finn Gold Cup, which is being held from 21-29 November at Takapuna Boating Club.

This week the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final Abu Dhabi is taking place with a small but select group competing for a slice of the generous prize money on offer. Racing starts runs from Thursdsay to Sunday. The small fleet is generally due to the proximity of the Finn Gold Cup, with many sailors already practicing hard in the waters off Takapuna Beach. With more than 80 pre-entries so far, representing six continents, the world heavyweight title fight is going to be a tough call. The line-up includes number of new sailors, and new nations, to the fleet as well as a number of returning sailors. As we get closer to the event, we'll bring you interviews with the sailors and previews of the regatta.

The regatta is big news in New Zealand with a large local fleet taking part as well as medal hopes from the country's top Finn sailors, Josh Junior and Andrew Murdoch.
Junior is excited about having his main rivals come down under to race for a change. He said, “It’s going to be awesome. We’re going to have more than 80 of the world’s best Finns in New Zealand and it’s going to be a good world champs. It will be good to try and win a medal in my home country – it would be really cool.”
A three day Pre-Worlds Regatta planned for 17, 18 and 19 November will provide international and local competitors with a tune-up opportunity and the chance for some racing at the venue ahead of the main event.
Below is the latest round up of Finn news and events. If you would like your event covered or promoted in a future release, or have a photo you'd like to share, please send it to media@finnclass.org.

FINNTEAM
The biggest news of the month is the launching of the FINNTEAM programme.
The concept is simple: create a team of Finn sailors from around the world, who are in need of coaching and funding, enable them to develop their skills and to train together, with a high-quality coach, while sourcing the funding that allows each of them to succeed and achieve their goals – reaching the Olympic podium.As part of the Finn class’s development programme, it has identified a group of aspiring athletes who have specific needs for coaching, training and funding and brought them together as the FINNTEAM.
The backbone to the team funding is a crowdfunding campaign that has been launched on GoFundMe. The FINNTEAM has been launched with five sailors from Argentina, Ireland, Uruguay and USA. Find out more about the team here
The Crowdfunding site can be found here.

Ed Wright won the opening race and holds a narrow lead over race two winner Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi. Filippo Baldassari is third. Racing continues until Sunday. Results here. Follow it here.

Nomination
Giles Scott has been nominated again for ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year.
In the shadow of one of the greatest Olympic Finn sailors of all time, Great Britain's Giles Scott has emerged as the next in line for the Finn throne.
Scott has dominated racing in the Finn class for the past two years and remains undefeated since October 2013. Among his achievements this year, Scott has won the last two Olympic test events, three Sailing World Cup events and the ISAF Worlds in Santander.
Despite dominating an Olympic class, Scott stills takes time out to compete in the America's Cup where he is part of the Ben Ainslie Racing team. He helped the team win the first event of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth, Great Britain and currently sits in second with the team overall. Full report here.

One month to go
It is now less than one month befiore 2015 Finn Gold Cup gets under way at Takapuna Boating Club in Auckland, New Zealand, and lots of sailors have already headed down to New Zealand to prepare for the Olympic Qualifucation Regatta, where at least four spaces in Rio will be available. Event website can be found here.

So far there has been no shortage of wind in New Zealand and long range forecasts show a windy summer ahead. A number of Finns have arrived early for training. Click on the video above (linked to Facebook) to see some Takapuna action. Video thanks to John Bertrand.
The Russian Championship is underway in Sochi. So far, the front is being contested by Arkadiy Kistanov, Alexiy Borysov and Egor Terpigorev. Results here. Reports in Russian here.
The Finn class took part in the ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao for the first time. 2012 Olympian Lei Gong took the win after a hard fought week from Luwen She and Xin Li. Results here.
The Italian Championship for all Olympic Classes took place in Napoli mid September. Six races were sailed in medium winds. The Italian Champion is Michele Paoletti, second overall was Alican Kaynar from Turkey followed by Giorgio Poggi and Simone Ferrarese (pictured). Results here.

Interview
Luca Devoti talks about the FINNTEAM initiative and what the Finn Class means to him
“The Finn class has an amazing history. It has been the class of choice for many sailors for many years. The full immersion that the Finn requires to be mastered is a teacher for life for all those who have taken on the challenge. It’s not by chance the Finn is the oldest Olympic boat and it is still the toughest physical class.”
“Lots of work has gone into preparing new young sailors and the class is gaining traction in South America with Uruguay and Argentina, it has the first Iranian sailor and is even helping developed nations that are struggling with their funding.”

A record edition for the International Finn Cup in Malcesine at the beginning of October attracted 93 Finns from 18 nations and many of the top Finn sailors present. First race was epic with winds from 25 to 33 knots, the following five races were sailed in light to medium winds. Six different race winners but Michele Paoletti (ITA), above, was more regular and won, with Alican Kaynar (TUR) in second and Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) in third. Full results here.
The German Championship on Lake Dümmer was won by Max Kohlhoff from Philip Kasüske and Simon Gorgels. Results here. Photo by Sabine Grothues, www.foto-grothues.de

The first day at the Malcesine Finn Cup produced some strong winds and great sailing. This is the video they made.
Tobias Kirschbaum's world got turned upside down during the very windy first day at the Malcesine Finn Cup. His splash video proved quite popular.
Max Salminen won the medal race at the Semaine Olympique Francaise in La Rochelle after dominating most of the week to seal the gold from Giorgio Poggi and Fabian Pic. Results here. Photo by Claire ADB.

Grab a good book from the Finnshop. Online ordering and more information here

UPCOMING EVENTS
NZ North Island Championship - Wakatere: 7-8/11
Auckland Championship: 16-19/11. Event website
ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne: 7-13/12. Website
Sail Sydney: 17-20 December. Website
Palamos Christmas Race: 17-22 December: Website
ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami: 23-30 January 2016. Website

OTHER NEWS
The Agenda for the 2015 IFA AGM is now online here, including the bids for the 2017 Major Championships.
Attention all Finn Gold Cup competitors: Martin Robitaille has room for an extra Finn hull going from Auckland to Valencia, Spain after the Finn Gold Cup. Price: 1800 euros. Contact him for more information.

August 2015 FINNFARE
Egor Terpigorev (RUS) is featured on the cover of the August edition of FINNFARE, the 150th ediition of the International Finn Class magazine. He was taking part in a Rule 42 clinic held in Valencia before the Finn Silver Cup (Junior World Championship). This issue is mainly filled with reports from regattas throughout Europe between April and August. More here. Read it here.
Looking for a gift for a Finn sailor or prizes for your event. There are some beautiful Finn half models are available in the Finnshop. More details here.
Photo of the month
Jake Lilley checking the water temperature in Takapuna. Photo: John Bertrand